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Questlove Teaches Us How to Listen to Earth, Wind & Fire

Track Star*

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This week on the Track Star Podcast, Jack is joined by six-time Grammy-winning drummer and record producer Questlove. The genre-defining drummer and co-founder and co-frontman of The Roots as well as an acclaimed director and filmmaker, is the director and producer of the new documentary: Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That's the Weight of the World).

In this episode, Jack and Questlove dive into the songs that have deeply influenced Questlove’s musical upbringing and modern-day career. He reflects on his journey and discusses his lifelong connection to Earth, Wind & Fire and the documentary.

This Episode’s Track List:
00:00 - Intro
00:45 - September - Earth, Wind & Fire
8:06 - Africano - Earth, Wind & Fire
18:46 - Wade In The Water - Ramsey Lewis
21:15 - Smokestack Lightning - Howlin’ Wolf
27:10 - Spinning Wheel - Blood, Sweat & Tears
32:14 - Kalimba Story - Earth, Wind & Fire
37:38 - Can You Get To That - Funkadelic
42:17 - Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
48:54 - Boogie Wonderland - Earth, Wind & Fire
49:06 - Let's Groove - Earth, Wind & Fire

Watch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1d5i6AQ...

New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every week. Let us know what artist, theme, or unexpected guest you want us to explore next.

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iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-th...
More platforms: https://play.megaphone.fm/f-rd86qotxo...

20 Comments

@track-star-show Creator 1 month ago Pinned

We put Questlove to the test, and this time with a range of music influences. Check out the video LIVE now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oytVtKjNQkQ

@breannalee4112 3 months ago (edited)

We need an entire Questlove series of TrackStar. This man is a living legend with a deep knowledge of music history that we are all so in need of.

@dereckvon 3 months ago

Questlove is such a scholar.

@gigsfunk 3 months ago

I would love Questlove to direct a full length documentary on Parliament/Funkadelic

@rasmith8928 3 months ago

Listening to Questlove talk about music feels like home.

@DenisonMartins 3 months ago

it would be fire to listen to a crossover talk between Questlove and John Batiste

@frambojan 3 months ago

This could have been three hours and I would not have skipped a minute. Quest's SNL music documentary is also a fantastic.

@CreatorOfTheLow 3 months ago

This new Earth Wind and Fire doc is peak quality entertainment. Worth many views and has serious replay value . Thank you sir .

@sortaskateandsnow 3 months ago (edited)

This is my superbowl 💯

@everettharris967 3 months ago

Questlove makes me think I just took a whole masters degree class in music history simply from an interview.

@DominicSilva-bl4ge 3 months ago

Amir is such a great doc maker. I would absolutely love for him to do a Curtis Mayfield doc.

@ROKGOLOBmusic 1 month ago

Questlove knows! Earth, Wind & Fire - the best funk band of all times. The Songs, the Performance, the Production, the Vibes - the Magic!

@gimmeagig 3 months ago

I've been a musician all of my life and i'm 70. I'm also an avid music collector. You could call me a music hoarder. But listening to Questlove i realize I have only scratched the surface. There is so much I don't know , that I have never thought about, that is really worthwhile to know. What a great interview. I can't wait to see that documentary.

@johnsguide2music177 3 months ago (edited)

I saw EWF live three times between '75 and '80, and I can confirm that for at least a week afterwards, you felt like you were on an LSD trip—and you never forgot that experience or that energy.
If I might add one more thought: when That's the Way of the World came out, the LP's recording quality blew you away. No other album leapt from the speakers with such energy and clarity. And this was back when most of us young folks had home audio systems that sounded ten times better than the data-compressed streaming tracks and shoddy amps used to play music today. Just listen to "Shining Star" at high volume on vinyl through a proper hi-fi system—it’ll blow you away, half a century later!

@seanbear69 3 months ago

Coolest dude in the world

@undfferentiated 2 months ago

The amount of information, knowledge and wisdom Questlove contains is insane for a young man of 55. He’s a fuckin National Treasure 🫡

@b_M_w_143 3 months ago

“…shows you what an act of God this song is” gotta love a man who’s so passionate about music with the knowledge and experience to back it up!

@shelleydomingue2052 3 months ago

Having a parent that loves music is everything! My mom and I had a music buying relationship too.

@kaego.s 3 months ago

After six rewatches of the documentary, starting Maurice’s memoir whom I share a birthday with, connecting the dots of why I was so drawn to the band and the music from preschool days, I literally needed this.